This story is a spin off of my original story/series (Love Comes Second). It is not in the same genre of stories, but they are related so there may be some places/scenes where the genres overlap. This series will be from the perspectives of the two servants, Luke and Mary.
I recommend that you read my previous chapters before this one.
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Chapter VII
Luke
The queen sends for me, so I walk up to her separate chambers briskly. I knock on her door.
"Luke?" she answers.
"Yes, your Majesty."
"Come in," she says. I open the door and she smiles at me.
"You called for me, your Majesty?"
"Yes, I wanted you to ask my son to come see me, it's urgent. I called for you so you can call him because he doesn't really like to listen to anyone else," she laughs softly.
"Yes, your Majesty," I bow and shut the door behind me. I walk back to Princess Jade and Prince Douglas's room and knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Douglas asks, sounding annoyed.
"It's Luke, your highness. The queen wishes to speak with you," I reply through the door.
"Tell her I'll be there in a little while. I'm kinda busy, Luke," he replies.
"She says it's urgent, Prince Douglas," I say wearily. I don't want to tell Douglas what to do, but it seems I have to.
"Alright, tell the queen that I'm coming," he sighs.
I wait until he's through the corridor before I knock on the door again.
"Yes?" Princess Jade says.
"Your highness? I was wondering if I could come in for a minute," I say.
"Sure, come in. Only for a minute though, Douglas will be coming back shortly," I enter the room and approach the steps by the bed.
"What is it that you need Luke?" Jade asks politely.
"Well, you see, I have a problem that I don't know how to fix. You seem like someone who gives good advice, so I was hoping you could lend me some?" I ask.
"I'm sure I could do that for you. I know how hard you work for my husband," she replies with a smile.
"Thank you, princess," I pause, thinking if I really want to do this, "There's this lady that I'm courting - or was, I'm not sure at this point. Anyhow, I implied I was seeing another woman and now she won't let me touch her at all. Nor will she let me talk to her to explain that I'm not really seeing another lady. I had to lie to a friend in front of her about having... intercourse... with another woman so we wouldn't get in trouble for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I just can't live without her, I love her. Tell me how to get her back, please?" I say, not taking a breath between sentences. I feel like I might cry, which is really out of character for me.
Before the princess can say anything, there's another knock at the door.
"Come in," the princess says loudly. Mary walks in tentatively. When she sees me she rolls her eyes a little.
"Never mind, princess. I'll come back later," she says, turning to walk away.
"No, Mary. Luke has an issue and I think he will need a second opinion on this matter," she smiles. She nods her head and walks in reluctantly then stands four feet away from me. Princess Jade looks back at me, "So, can you tell Mary what's happened? Catch her up on what you've told me?"
"You know, Princess Jade, I think I have a solution to my issue now. No need to discuss it further," I say, turning around to walk out the door. This is humiliating.
"Luke! Stay. I think you should talk out your problem so you have a woman's point of view. Even better, two women's points of view," she says. If she knows about what's happening, she's deliberately torturing me. I stop and then slowly walk back to where I was standing before.
"Now, tell Mary what you said so that she can help too," she says. Mary glares at me when I glance at her, so I look back at Princess Jade.
"There's a lady that I was, and hopefully still am, courting. I told a lie in front of her, saying that I was sleeping with another woman. I only did this to protect her and myself from trouble, but now she won't let me touch her, much less talk to her. I just want her back," I say quietly. I must sound pathetic.
Mary's expression had changed from one of anger to one of shock. "So what do you think, Mary? What advice can you give him?" the princess asks.
I look at Mary as she stares at me with what seems like guilt, "I think... um, try writing a letter. If she won't listen to you, maybe she'll read your explanation. You might not be the only one to apologize though, women make mistakes too," she cringes at her last sentence.
"What type of mistakes, Mary?" I ask, sounding a bit angry. She better not have slept with someone to get back at me.
"Well, maybe she thought 'an eye for an eye' and did exactly what you had said you did..." she replies carefully.
"Alright, so it sounds like Luke has a lot to think about on this matter. Why don't you go back to your chambers, Luke? Mary will stay with me. You can leave the door open," Jade says. Mary instantly walks up to the bed and sits on the edge, looking at her. I storm out of the room and decide I need to go cool off.
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Mary